Abstract

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF MACERATION AND SOXHLET EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES USING ACETONE AND AQUEOUS ACETONE: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE EXTRACTIVE YIELD OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA AND TERMINALIA CHEBULA

Anusiyasri S.*, Hemavathi D., Sasi Kumar V., Sampath Kumar T.

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Abstract

The extraction process is critical for isolating bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. This study compares the effects of extraction method (maceration vs. Soxhlet) and solvent polarity (100% acetone vs. 70% aqueous acetone) on the yield and phytochemical profile of Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaf and Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) fruit. Dried plant materials underwent eight extraction protocols. Percentage yield was calculated gravimetrically, and extracts were screened for major secondary metabolites. Soxhlet extraction with 70% aqueous acetone yielded the highest quantity of crude extract, with Haritaki achieving a remarkable 15.9% yield. Phytochemical analysis showed solvent-specific partitioning: pure acetone was superior for extracting Neem's terpenoids and steroids, while aqueous acetone enhanced the recovery of Haritaki's tannins and phenolics. The choice of extraction method and solvent polarity significantly impacts both the yield and chemical composition of plant extracts. These findings provide a critical framework for optimizing protocols to target specific bioactive compounds.

Keywords: Plant Extraction, Solvent Polarity, Maceration, Soxhlet Extraction, Azadirachta indica, Terminalia chebula.